Milk Maid
It happens only every four years. Outfits range from being decked out in sequins to snow pants and everything in between.
People gather from all over the world to watch and new heroes are crowned champions. That’s right, it’s time for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
The Winter Olympics have been dominating the media and this year they are taking place in PyeongChang, South Korea.
The Winter Games began on February 8 and they run until February 25. I’m personally a huge fan of the Olympics.
These are typically sports that I only watch once every four years. I enjoy how each country and their athletes are a little different, but they all come together and show the world the “best of the best.”
The Winter Games are fun to watch because they’re something different other than just watching football, basketball or baseball.
The downside to this year’s Olympics is the time difference. Since South Korea is 14 hours ahead of the U.S., it can be a little confusing and disappointing to watch coverage of the games.
Unless you are watching live at 3 a.m., news reports probably ruin the suspense of who wins competitions. It’s a massive spoiler alert. There are 20 Minnesotans representing Team USA this year, with five others being Minnesota natives, but now living elsewhere including famous women’s skier Lindsey Vonn.
Most of the Minnesotans are skiers, curlers and hockey players. There are two sisters from the Twin Cities that are both playing hockey, but they are playing for two different countries.
Hannah Brandt plays for Team USA while her sister Marissa plays for Korea. Marissa was adopted as a baby from South Korea and the sisters are hoping to play against each other.
On Sunday night during the team figure skating competition, United States figure skater Mirai Nagasu became the first American woman to land a triple axel during Olympic competition and only the third in history to do it at the Olympics.
If you haven’t seen her amazing triple axel yet, I highly recommend watching it. It was all anyone seemed to be talking about, and rightfully so. I really enjoy the figure skating, even though I don’t understand the scoring system.
Unless someone falls during their performance, I’m usually very impressed. I can’t even fall on ice gracefully, let alone begin to do some of the amazing moves the skaters can do.
One of my other favorite events to watch is the snowboarding events. So far during these Olympics, the United States has won gold in the Men’s Slopestyle, gold in the Women’s Slopestyle and gold and bronze in Women’s Halfpipe and gold in the Men’s Halfpipe.
California teen sensation Chloe Kim won the gold in the Women’s Halfpipe and her runs were jaw dropping to watch. She had a nearly perfect score of 98.25 to earn her first gold medal.
Shaun White is the first snowboarder that comes to mind during the Olympics since his debut in 2006 and he’s one of my favorites.
He ditched his trademark, “Flying Tomato,” hair and is now sporting a more sophisticated look to show he means business. He previously won the gold in 2006 and 2010 and was fourth at Sochi in 2014.
On Tuesday night our time, Wednesday in South Korea, he placed first in the finals for the Men’s Halfpipe with a blazing score of 97.75.
It was an incredible final run and I was amazed with every trick he performed. My heart was racing as it seemed to take forever for his final score to come in.
With this gold medal, he earned another spot in the history books.
White earned the 100th gold medal in United States Winter Olympics history.
Even though the weather may be cold, the action is just heating up.
There are many great athletes representing Team USA to keep cheering for!